REFUSING THE CEO'S LOVE

Chapter 10

Chloe huddled on the sofa, cautiously checking her X. Overwhelming insults pressed down on her, making it hard for her to breathe.

She searched for the hashtags she had seen yesterday, only to find that those posts had already been deleted. However, new posts still appeared from time to time.

Just when she was puzzled, Ethan suddenly sent her a message. "The online posts have been deleted."

Chloe looked at the message without any emotional response. Ethan's habitual tactic of deleting posts after stirring up trouble was disgusting.

Without replying to Ethan's message, she went straight to the bathroom to prepare for a shower.

The phone suddenly rang, and she lowered her head to see that it was a call from the hospital. She quickly swiped to answer, "Hello."

"Miss Hollis, your previous payment balance is insufficient. Do you know when you can come to the hospital to settle the payment?"

Chloe's heart tightened suddenly. She had paid off the debt of fifty thousand, and the remaining money in her hand was just enough for one more day of ICU for her father!

Listening to the voice on the other end, it took Chloe a while to speak, "I'll come to the hospital to make the payment tomorrow."

After hanging up the phone, she began to post information about taking orders for her paintings. However, she knew that merely posting painting information was not enough.

She stared at the Snapchat profiles of Evelyn and Aiden for a long time, but the words "borrow money" just wouldn't come out. Since the bankruptcy of the Hollis family, she had virtually no friends left. Evelyn and Aiden were the only people she could think of who might be willing to lend her money.

However, Evelyn was an ordinary staff, and her income couldn't really handle the expensive hospital fees. As for Aiden, Chloe had no idea how to approach him.

Early the next morning, Chloe set off for the hospital. She wore a mask and tied up her usual loose hair, trying her best to make herself look different from her usual appearance.

Coming out of the hospital payment counter, Chloe had only a little over a thousand dollars left. Now, the only thing she could get was the fifty thousand dollars from Ethan.

Sitting on a hospital bench, she took out her phone to call him.

The phone was quickly answered, and Ethan's clear and steady voice came through the speaker, "Did you call me after thinking it through?"

"When will you give me the fifty thousand dollars?" Chloe asked, clenching her fists. "Last time, you didn't keep your word. The money is mine. Besides, I have a contract with the bar."Ethan chuckled. "So what?"

Infuriated by Ethan's shamelessness, Chloe said, "I can sue you!"

"Suing me for this amount of money would be more than fifty thousand dollars," Ethan spoke casually, but Chloe knew it was true.

She squeezed her palm, and after a while, spoke again, "Ethan, what do you want?"

Ethan responded with a light "Oh," seemingly impressed by Chloe's tact. "It's been a long time since you cooked for me. Cook for me tonight, and you'll get the money."

"Fine," Chloe's response was quick, without any hesitation.

Ethan pretended to ponder. "But you're in Greenwood, and I'm in Middleton. How can I eat what you cook?"

Chloe pursed her lips. "I'll go back to Middleton."

Ethan smirked and hung up the phone. Afterward, he sent Chloe an address and an entry code.

Radiance Plaza, Building 5, Unit 1202.

Looking at the address on the screen, Chloe's heart was in turmoil. Since the wedding incident, she had not been in contact with Aiden.

——

After checking on her parents in the hospital, Chloe returned to Middleton. When she arrived, it was around 4:00 PM,and she still had time. However, since Ethan and Aiden lived in the same neighborhood and the same building, she was worried about encountering Aiden in the elevator. In the end, she reluctantly took the stairs, carrying a bag of groceries.

Once Chloe brought the groceries into the kitchen, she started preparing. During college, Ethan had rented a house off-campus. Except for days with classes, the two of them mostly lived outside. Chloe's culinary skills were developed during those times.

Chloe didn't know Ethan's current food preferences, so she prepared a few dishes based on her understanding of him from their college days.

When Ethan returned home, Chloe was still busy in the kitchen and hadn't noticed his arrival. He threw his coat on the sofa and walked towards the kitchen. Watching Chloe work busily, a flicker of flame appeared in his gaze.

Chloe sprinkled the chopped green onions into the soup on the cutting board, turned to grab a kitchen towel to prepare to serve the soup, and noticed Ethan had returned. She didn't know how long he had been standing there, and his expression seemed somewhat unnatural.

"Dinner is almost ready. You can wait outside," she said.

Ethan didn't say anything but still walked outside.

Watching Ethan's back, Chloe had a moment of trance, as if everything had returned to the way it was 5 years ago. Back then, they often left cooking halfway and ended up in the bedroom together.When they returned to the kitchen, it was already hours later. After a moment, she snapped out of her memories.

Twenty-something minutes later, Chloe brought all the dishes to the table. However, there was no sign of Ethan in the living room.

Seeing that the bedroom door was closed, she guessed Ethan should be inside. She took off her apron and knocked on the door.

"Knock, knock, knock—"

Chloe knocked several times, but there was no response from inside. Just when she thought he wasn't there and was about to leave, the door opened from the inside.

Ethan walked out with wet hair, wearing casual home clothes. He went to the dining table, pulled out a chair, and sat down, looking at the dishes on the table with a faint gleam in his eyes. They were dishes he used to love.

Ethan chuckled, "I didn't expect that you still remember my preferences so clearly after so many years. Could it be that you find it hard to forget our past?"

Chloe's expression remained unchanged, "The meal is ready, give me the money."

Ethan's expression slightly changed. He looked at Chloe standing in front of him, suddenly pulled her over, and lifted her onto his lap.

Chloe shivered all over, immediately trying to get up, but Ethan held her waist, rendering her immobile.

"What are you doing!" Chloe exclaimed.

Ethan's warm breath brushed against Chloe's cheek. "Of course, having dinner." Saying that, he picked up his fork, grabbed a piece of meat, and put it into his mouth.

Chloe was very uncomfortable with such an intimate gesture. She struggled to get up, but in Ethan's cold gaze, she became motionless. The money was not in her hands yet, and she had to endure it!

Chloe stopped struggling, her eyes staring at the clock on the wall. She cleared her mind, forced herself to shift her focus, and tried to ignore the presence of the man besides her.

to be continued......